DU Helps You Help Others
When Blanca Elena Trejo Aguilera chose to attend DU, she knew she'd get a good education. But she also found a partner willing to help her help others.
Blanca Elena Trejo Aguilera advocates for participation in community engagement to improve DU and Denver.
Trejo, a junior international business and political science major from Denver, became a volunteer community organizer with Metro Organizations for People and later became their staff youth organizer while she was in high school.
With Metro, she has helped high school students advocate for cleaner bathrooms and she also promoted federal legislation for equal education opportunities.
"Essentially, what I do is go into a community and work with youth to develop leadership skills and an awareness of what’s going on so they understand the policies affecting them, and then give them the tools to change those policies," she says.
Trejo has worked with students from West High School, Aurora High School and several Catholic parishes.
A scholar and a community organizer
At DU, she founded the Engaged Community Initiative, a Metro affiliate, and has helped students identify issues they care about, not only at the University but around the Denver metro area.
"She has an appetite to stretch herself," says Kristee Paschall, Metro's director of operations. "Whatever Blanca puts her mind to, she will accomplish because she’s not afraid to stretch."
Trejo was recently named an Honorary Puksta Scholar, helping her garner funding for the activities she organizes.
The Puksta Scholars Program provides the opportunity for students with financial need, like Trejo, to pursue a college education while developing a commitment to civic engagement.
"I'm passionate about education because I know that's how I ended the cycle I saw myself going down," she says. "If not for my teachers and organizers, I would not be where am now."
Find out more about DU’s Puksta Scholars
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Published on March 10, 2008